Abstract: Harvey Milk was the first gay man elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Scott Smith was his partner and friend.
The collection documents the personal and political life of Harvey Milk, and the personal life of Scott Smith. Milk's political
papers include issue files from the Board of Supervisors, as well as speeches and campaign literature. The photographs document
Milk's and Smith's activities in the gay community.

Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.

Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.

Access

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the copyright holder.

Harvey Bernard Milk was born on May 22,1930, in Woodmere, New York. His parents were Minerva Karns and William Milk. His older
brother was Robert Milk. Harvey graduated from the New York State Teachers College at Albany in 1951. He was in the U.S. Navy
until 1955. He then worked briefly in New York on Wall Street and eventually became involved with the Tom O'Horgan shows
Hair and
Jesus Christ Superstar. He moved out to San Francisco in the early 1970s.

Harvey's political aspirations began with his unsuccessful campaigns for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1973 and
1975. Mayor George Moscone appointed Milk to the city's Board of Permit Appeals in 1976 though he had to resign from that
position in the same year when he announced his candidacy for the California State Assembly. He lost the Assembly race as
well. He was elected to the Board of Supervisors in November 1977. On January 9, 1978, Milk was sworn into office.

While in office, he cosponsored a gay rights ordinance, and was interested in the creation of a gay community center. His
Supervisor issue files cover a wide variety of topics from the Briggs Initiative (Proposition 6) and divestment from South
Africa to San Francisco parking facilities and the much-publicized Dog Litter law. Milk's life was cut short when Dan White
assassinated him on November 27, 1978.

There are several biographical works about Milk. Most notable is
The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts. The documentary
The Times of Harvey Milk by Robert Epstein and Richard Schmeichen is also an excellent resource.
Double Play by Mike Weiss recounts the killings of Milk and Moscone and includes transcripts of police documents. All of these books
and videotapes are available in the San Francisco Public Library. The archival research for
Double Play is also available at the San Francisco History Center of the San Francisco Public Library.

Scope and Contents

The collection is a mixture of the personal papers of Harvey Milk and Scott Smith, the political papers of Harvey Milk, and
the collection of the Harvey Milk Archives and Harvey Milk Estate. As Smith was the head of the Milk Archives and also Milk's
executor, the latter materials have been organized into one series. The political papers and photographs series are the best
documented portions of the collection. The political papers include drafts of speeches and writings, as well as the flyers
and other ephemera which a campaign produces. There is unfortunately not much on Milk's early life though there are a few
documents on his mother. With the exception of the photographs, the bulk of the collection documents Milk's life on the West
Coast.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into six series: Series 1. Harvey Milk's personal papers; Series 2. Harvey Milk's political papers;
Series 3. Scott Smith's personal papers; Series 4. Materials relating to the Harvey Milk Archives and his estate; Series 5.
Photographic materials; and Series 6. Clippings and ephemera. Most series are arranged alphabetically by folder title, and
materials are filed chronologically within each folder; the photographic series is organized by slide program when possible,
and by folder title in all other cases.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Milk, Harvey--Archives.

Smith, Scott (Joseph Scott)--Archives.

Gay liberation movement--California--San Francisco.

Gay politicians--California--San Francisco.

Gays--Political activity--California--San Francisco.

Nineteen seventies.

Politicians--California--San Francisco.

San Francisco (Calif.)--Politics and government--20th century

Speeches, addresses, etc., American.

Series 1
Harvey Milk Personal Papers,1930-1979(bulk 1970-1978)

Physical Description:
2.0 cubic feet

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence, financial information, subject files, legal documents, and ephemera on various aspects
of Milk's personal life. Milk's personal correspondence includes letters to Scott Smith, and a copy of the thank you letter
from President Gerald Ford to Oliver (Bill) Sipple. There is also a sampling of financial information on Castro Camera. Condolence
letters to Milk after his lover Jack Lira's suicide, and to the Milk family and friends after Milk's assassination appear
in this series. Of particular note are the files on Coors, the Castro Village Association, the Eureka Valley Promotion Association,
and the musical
Inner City. There are photocopies of several documents such as Milk's birth certificate, his naval discharge and his mother's military
discharge.

Monti, Jasper. Transcript of Cross examination of Office Paul Frank Makaveckas regarding Dennis Peron and use of the word
"faggot,"
February 24, 1978

Box 2, Folder 48

Pacific Ballet,1974, undated

Box 2, Folder 49

The Pride Foundation,1974

Box 2, Folder 50

Prisoners' Visitors,1975

Box 2, Folder 51

Reed, Robert Eugene. Will,1977

Box 2, Folder 52

San Francisco Bay Times prospectus,
Spring 1978

Box 2, Folder 53

San Francisco Public Library,April 1975

Box 2, Folder 54

San Francisco Tomorrow,1975

Box 2, Folder 55

Senate Bill 39,1973-1976

Box 2, Folder 56

S.I.R. (Society for Individual Rights),1974-1975

Box 2, Folder 57

Tunbridge in San Francisco,1974

Box 2, Folder 58

Vital Records (Harvey Milk),1930-1974

General note

Includes: copy of birth certificate (1930); Bay Shore High School Commencement program and copy of diploma (1947); State University
of New York College for Teachers at Albany copy of transcript (1947-1950) and copy of diploma (1951); United States Navy Honorable
Discharge certificate copy (1955); University of the State of New York Teacher's Certificate copy (1957); photocopies of passports
(1967, 1974); and, Social Security cards (2).

The series contains flyers, financial papers, press releases, voter information pamphlets, and other materials relating to
Milk's campaigns for San Francisco supervisor in 1973, 1975, and 1977, and his campaign for a seat on the California Assembly
in 1976. The Assembly campaign files include hate mail. The only successful campaign was for Supervisor in 1977. The series
also includes copies of legal papers filed against other candidates regarding ballot irregularities. Newspaper clippings are
filed chronologically in Series 6.

Arrangement

Arranged into chronological order by campaign, and then alphabetically by folder title.

1973 Supervisor Campaign

Box 33

Buttons,1973

Finances

Box 3, Folder 1

Candidate's Campaign Statement,1973

Box 3, Folder 2

Income and expenses,July-November 1973

Box 3, Folder 3

Receipts,1973

Box 3, Folder 4

Statement of Economic Interests,1973

Box 3, Folder 5

Flyers, promotional material,1973

Box 3, Folder 6

Nomination papers and sponsor certificates (photocopies and some originals),1973

This series contains some correspondence relating to Milk's campaigns and his position on the Board of Permit Appeals. The
majority of the material is constituent correspondence referring to issues before the Board of Supervisors. There is a folder
of hate mail received from 1977-1978.

Arrangement

The majority of the series is arranged chronologically, with a few subject files added after the chronological arrangement.

Box 5, Folders 1-2

General,1973-1977, undated

Open Letter to the Mayor of San Francisco from Milk (September 1973)

Hongisto, Richard (1977)

Box 5, Folder 3

Board of Permit Appeals,1975-1976

Supervisor Correspondence

Box 5, Folder 4

Business card (Milk as Supervisor),1978

Box 5, Folder 5

Business cards and phone numbers,[1977-1978]

Box 5, Folder 6

Congratulatory notes regarding election,1977-1978

Foster, Jim

[Pabich], Dick

Box 5, Folder 7

Falwell, Jerry,1978

Box 5, Folder 8

Moscone, George R., Mayor of San Francisco,1977-1978

Box 5, Folder 9

Pines, Burt, regarding Attorney General election,1977-1978

Box 5, Folder 10

Wahl, John Eshleman,1978

General Correspondence,1978

Box 5, Folders 11-20

January-August 1978

Box 6, Folders 1-5

September-December 1978

Box 6, Folder 6

Hate Mail,1977-1978

Box 6, Folder 7

Invitations,1977-1978

Subseries 2C
Supervisor Files,1958-1978(bulk 1974-1978

Physical Description:
3.0 cubic feet

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and draft legislation relating to issues brought before the San
Francisco Board of Supervisors. Of special interest are the files on the Briggs Initiative/Proposition 6, Gay Rights Ordinance,
and Gay Community Center. Milk's 1978 appointment book and the Roll Call items for the Board of Supervisors also appear in
this series.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Box 6, Folder 8

A.B.A.G. (Association of Bay Area Governors),1978

Forester, Chuck

Box 6, Folder 9

Agnos, Art (re: AB1302 a bill which concerned gay job rights),1978

Box 6, Folder 10

Airport [San Francisco],1978

Azevedo, Joseph

Rose-Azevedo, Joseph

San Mateo County

Box 6, Folder 11

Alcoholism,1977-1978

Pride Foundation

Smith, Russell D.

Whitman-Radclyffe Foundation

Box 6, Folder 12

Animal Control,1978

Box 6, Folder 13

Appointment Book,1978

Box 6, Folder 14

Art Commission,1977-1978

Eureka Valley Promotion Association

Eyes and Ears Festival

Box 6, Folder 15

Arts (in support of Mayor's request to reinstate arts funding from the hotel tax),1978

Brown, Willie L., Jr.

Burton, John L.

Box 6, Folder 16

Assessor,1978

Box 6, Folder 17

Bakke [Decision],1978

Affirmative Action

April 29th Coalition

Box 6, Folder 18

Bicentennial Grants,1978

Box 6, Folder 19

Bicycles,1978

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Box 6, Folder 20

Board of Permit Appeals,1978

Box 6, Folder 21

Board [of Supervisors] Procedures,1977-1978

Box 6, Folder 22

Books [
Man & Man, Woman & Woman],
1978

Boggan, E. Carrington

Box 6, Folder 23

Ollie [Mae Bozarth]...Mental Health,1978

National Committee on Patients' Rights

Box 6, Folders 24-27

Briggs Initiative / Proposition 6,1977-1978

California Defend Out Children

Box 6, Folder 28

Briggs Initiative. Anita Bryant Look Alike Contest,1977

General note

Includes paper bag with Betsy Gleckler's drawing of Anita Bryant sucking an orange.

This series contains draft speeches and writings relating to issues Milk considered important. The "Hope" and the "Neighborhoods"
speeches are among those in draft form. Drafts and copies of Milk's column for the
Bay Area Reporter and the
Sentinel are also included in the writings.

This series contains the personal correspondence of Scott Smith, legal files, and subject files which include Smith's travel
agency files. The legal files contain documents pertaining to several suits filed by Smith: one to recover Milk's personal
effects, one to receive the death benefit due to a surviving partner, and one against Dan White. The files also detail Smith's
arrest and trial hearing for a drug possession charge. This series also contains copies of a petition to keep Dan White imprisoned
when his parole hearing came up. Additional Scott Smith materials can be found in Milk's personal correspondence, within the
Castro Camera materials, in the Harvey Milk Archives series, in the Photographs series, and in the Newspapers and Ephemera
series.

Christen, Pat. And John Tenney (regarding Sex Club and Bathhouse Conference),1992-1994

Box 11, Folder 27

Ernst, Ron. And James David Altman,[1992?]

Box 11, Folder 28

Forester, Chuck. And Michael Schoch,1987-1990

Box 11, Folder 29

Frutchey, Chuck,undated

Box 11, Folder 30

Goethe Institute,1989

Box 11, Folder 31

Hawk, Bob,1993

Box 11, Folder 32

Hecker, Frank. And David Waggoner,1987-1989

Box 11, Folder 33

Hemenway, Dean,1992

Box 11, Folder 34

Herzog, Ronald,1992

Box 11, Folder 35

McGrath, Dr. Michael,1989

Box 11, Folder 36

Robinson, Frank,undated

Box 11, Folder 37

Sarvis, Penny. And Glenda and Scott Hope, and Diana Varella,undated

Box 11, Folder 38

Schoenfeld, Irving,1989-1991

Box 11, Folder 39

Shepard, Mike,undated

Box 11, Folder 40

Shilts, Randy,1990

Box 11, Folder 41

Stall, Ron,1994

Box 11, Folder 42

Weiser, Ann,undated

Box 11, Folder 43

Welborn, Rob Edley,1994

Box 11, Folder 44

Wolfred, Tim,undated

Box 11, Folder 45

Voter leaflet,[1985]

Series 4
Harvey Milk Archives and Estate,1975-1995

Physical Description:
2.5 cubic feet

Scope and Contents

This series contains files relating to the Harvey Milk Archives, a non-profit organization headed by Scott Smith, that cared
for and exhibited items from Milk's estate. Smith's position as executor for the estate and curator for the Archives meant
that often this material was intermingled.

This series contains correspondence to and from the Harvey Milk Archives and from the Estate of Harvey Milk. Most correspondents
seek permission to use and/or publish material from the Archives. Smith's responses and releases appear here.

Arrangement

Arranged into General correspondence, and files by individual correspondent. General correspondence is filed chronologically.
Individual correspondent folders are filed alphabetically by folder title.

Includes correspondence, and items donated to the Museum of Lesbian and Gay History: National AIDS Vigil brochure, flyer for
Los Angeles Feminist Women's Health Center program, flyer for Parade for Peace (against nuclear missles), flyer for Alex Haley
talk on "The Survival of the Family."

Sloane, David C. (includes biographical sketch of Milk for the
Dictionary of American Biography),
1993

Box 12, Folder 17

Vasconcellos, John,1983

Box 12, Folder 18

Jerry B. Wheeler Productions (regarding motion picture),1980-1982

Subseries 4B
Subject Files,1975-1995

Physical Description:
1.5 cubic feet

Scope and Contents

This subseries contains material on the Milk estate's finances, memorials for Milk, the Harvey Milk Film Project /
Times of Harvey Milk documentary, and
The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts and its related movie projects. The subject files include permissions and copyright requests. The files contain
minutes and other organizational documents on the incorporation of The Castro Street Fair as a not-for-profit organization,
and its oversight of The Harvey Milk Archives. One of the missions of The Harvey Milk Archives was to establish a gay and
lesbian museum. Promotional material and fundraising appeals appear in this series, as well as material on archival procedures.

The photographic prints section is arranged chronologically for the most part. Personal and Milk family photographs appear
at the beginning, followed by political campaign prints, and then images taken and collected by Harvey Milk and Scott Smith.
Images of Milk's boyfriends are filed by name under the heading "Lover" and are arranged chronologically. Many images collected
by Harvey and Scott are arranged in a rough chronological order. Subjects include gay pride parades, Castro Street fairs,
Gay Games II, and the dedication of Harvey Milk Plaza.

The scrapbooks and slide programs are organized by number with titles to describe the subjects covered. The scrapbooks cover
such varied subjects as Korea, the 1976 Assembly campaign, and a cabaret show. Some of the slides had been arranged into programs
with subjects covering vacations, attractive men, and theater productions such as
Hair or
Jesus Christ Superstar. Loose slides were organized by subject; some of these are sexually explicit.

As there is no master index to this series, it is worthwhile to look within each section for a given subject. Some of the
notable photographers represented in the collection are Dan Nicoletta, Tom Eure, Rink, and Crawford Barton.

Arrangement

Arranged by three subseries according to format: photographic prints and negatives, scrapbooks, and slide programs.

Many of the slide programs were numbered at the time of accessioning. HMSC stands for Harvey Milk Slide Collection. The slides
include some images taken by Harvey Milk and Scott Smith. A large number of slides were not organized into slide programs.
These are arranged by subject whenever possible. One folder contains the slides and transparencies used for the Harvey Milk:
Second Sight exhibition.

The series is arranged into 3 sections: Clippings; Flat Newspapers; and Ephemera. The Clippings and Flat Newspapers are arranged
chronologically. The Ephemera is arranged alphabetically by title.

Scope and Contents

Includes coverage of Milk's campaigns, some interviews with Milk, and some general stories about gay issues and marches. Also
includes issues of the
Bay Area Reporter with Milk's column "Milk Forum." Coverage from June 1977-November 1978 includes gay rights debates relating to Proposition
6, also known as the Briggs Initiative, which would have banned gay and lesbian teachers in California. Milk and Sally Gearhart
debated John Briggs in October 1978. Coverage in November 1978 focuses on the assassinations of Milk and George Moscone, and
May 1979 centers on the trial of Dan White and the riot that followed the jury's verdict. Many of the clippings from 1982
discuss
The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts. The Flat Newspapers are in rough chronological order and often include the front sections of newspapers
covering Milk.

The ephemera includes an audiorecording, buttons for Milk's campaigns, a medal, and a bumper sticker for George Moscone.

Clippings,1973-1989

Box 26, Folder 1

1973-1974

Box 26, Folder 2

1975

Box 26, Folder 3

January-May 1976

Box 26, Folders 4-5

June-December 1976

Box 26, Folder 6

January-June 1977

Box 26, Folder 7

July-October 1977

Box 26, Folder 8

November 1977

Box 26, Folder 9

December 1977

Box 26, Folder 10

January 1978

Box 26, Folder 11

February 1978

Box 26, Folder 12

March 1978

Box 26, Folder 13

April 1978

Box 26, Folder 14

May 1978

Box 26, Folder 15

June 1978

Box 26, Folder 16

July 1978

Box 26, Folder 17

August 1978

Box 26, Folder 18

September 1978

Box 26, Folder 19

October 1978

Box 26, Folder 20, Box 27, Folder 1

November 1978

General note

Includes San Francisco Voter Information Pamphlet, General Election, November 7, 1978.